Apparatus for maintaining a body of water free of ice



G. E. GROSS April 2, 1963 APPARATUS FOR MAINTANING A BODY OF WATER FREE OF ICE Filed Oct. 6, 1958 INVENTOR.

6&0?? e @M955 Patented Apr. 2, 193

3,683,53 AEEPARATUS llll ll/ifsbl'lAllsllNG A EDY @El WATER FREE F ECE George E. Gross, 836 S. Maple St., @ak Park, El. Filed Get. 6, i958, Ser. No. 765,666 7 Claims. (Cl. al-l) This invention is concerned with the maintenance of water, as -in rivers, lakes and the like, free of ice preferably by preventing the formation of ice.

As will be apparent, there are many disadvantages in frozen over bodies of water, such as rivers, lakes, and the like. Obviously navigation is prevented or seriously impeded. Shifting of ice masses, and also expansion or" the water as it freezes causes extensive damage to shore installations and to any boats left in the water. Additionally, complete freezin(Y of the surface of a body of water causes what is known as winter kill of iish by excluding oxygen from the surface of the wate The addition of sufficient heat to prevent freezing of any but the very smallest 'bodies of water is obviously impractical.

It is known that a body of water generally will not freeze below the lirst foot or so, and that the water near the bottom is generally well above freezing temperature (water has a maximum density at 39.2 R). Etorts previously have been made to mix the warmer lower water with the upper colder water by bubbling air up through the water. This requires large expenditures of power and even then does not work too well as it requires extensive mixing of the relatively warm sub-surface water with the surface water.

l have found that the warmer subsurface water can be used much more effectively with a minimal expenditure of power. l have observed that Water at dierent temperatures appears to have diiferent viscosities and resists mixing. This tendency must be overcome by the bubbling processes of the prior art.

As disclosed in my copendmg application entitled Method and Apparatus For l'reventins7 and `Controlling Formation of ice, Serial Number 736,155, tiled May 19, 1958, now abandoned, l have heretofore directed small jets of sub-surface water up to the surface, the warmer water thus ris-ing without mixing and spreading out as a relatively warm layer on the surface.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention .to provide improved apparatus for maintaining 4water free :of ice.

More specically, it is an object of this invention to provide such apparatus in the form of a self contained unit.

Another object of this invention is to provide a system of a plurality of self contained pumping units for maintaining1 a river or the like free of ice.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a river with a plurality of pumping units therein in accordance with this invention;

FlG. 2 is a cross sectional view through the river;

FlG. 3 is a detail side view of one of the pumping units; `and HG. 4 is an end view of the unit as taken along the line 4--4 in FIG. 3.

Referring now in greater partieularity, and iirst to FlGS. 1 and 2, there will be seen a river indicated at l@ and having opposite banks l2 and ld. The river has a bottom 16 with upwardly sloping sidewalls l and 2G, A plurality of pumping units 22 is positioned in spaced pairs along the bottom le of the river adjacent the sloping sidewalls lS and 2t. The pumping units are so constructed and oriented, as hereinafter `set forth, as to direct streams 24 of warmer water from the bottom of the river up toward the surface more or less along the center of the river, whereby to maintain the channel 26 free of ice. The edges of the surface laterally outwardly of the channel may also be kept ice free, if so desired.

Each pumping unit, referring now more particularly to FGS. 3 and 4, comprises a sheet metal base 2.8, preferably of corrosion resistant material, such as stainless steel. The bottom of the base is oblique or inclined as indicated at 3 whereby the entire unit is in an inclined or tipped position when resting on the river bottom. The bottom of the base may be embedded in concrete, but for most installations it is suilicient to force the bottom of the base into the mud or gravel or other material forming the river bottom 16.

The base is provided with va ring of arcuately spaced holes 32 that are positioned above the river bottom with the unit in installed position and which serve as water intakes. A sealed vfractional horsepower electric motor 345 is supported by a bracket 36 on the axis of the base near the upper edge thereof. The motor 3ft preferably includes a built-in gear reducer to drive the out-put shaft 38 at a rather low speed. A rather small propeller 4G is mounted on the shaft 3.8, and is somewhat similar in conguration to the screw of a ship or a boat, rather than being similar to a fan.

The pumping unit 22 is provided with a shroud 42 comprising screen wire in the form of a cylinder (or slightly flaring, as shown) secured to the upper edge of the base 23 and extending upwardly therefrom beyond the propeller di). ri`he screen or shroud 4Z keeps marine life and debris away from the propeller 4i). Additionally, it serves as a duct for water propelled by the unit. The interstices of the shroud are rather small and water is suthciently coherent that the shroud is capable of acting as a duct, as opposed to the relatively open guards commonly used on Ventilating fans.

In addition, the pumping unit 22 -is provided with water directing means 44 above the shroud 42 comprising a plurality lof vanes or blades d6 held by a frame 43 supported by brackets Si? extending up from the base 28. The vanes preferably are adjustably mounted on the `frame and are parallel to the center line of the river. Alternatively, .the vanes could be actory-xed in the necessary position for any given installation.

The pumping units can be automatically turned on land off `by time or temperature controlled means (not shown) mounted in the water, or can he automatically or manully controlled from the shore. Water is picked up from near the bottom of the river through the holes 3-2. VA certain amount of water also may be pulled up from below the Abottom of the river, particularly when the river has a gravel bottom. All or the vwater picked up is above freezing temperature, generally by at least several degrees. This `water is directed by the duct or shroud 4Z and by the blades or vanes d6 up toward the center or channel 26 of the river along the paths indicated at 24. As heretofore indicated, water at diierent temperatures does not readily mix, and accordingly there is substantially no 4appreciable spreading out or diffusion of the relatively warm streams 2dof water. However, when the warm water reaches the surface, it spreads :out as a relatively warm surface layer 52 maintaining the channel 26 `free of ice. The pumping units in most instances need be operated only intermittently, even during the coldest weather. Incidentally, they should be operated for a few minutes every week or so during the summer to clean silt and the like from the propellers.

The sealed motor units are readily available in commerce at reasonable prices, and the remaining parts being mostly sheet metal and screen wire, can be fabricated and assembled at low cost. .As will be apparent, it is Vgenerally preferable to use ,corrosion resistant materials throughout. Installation costs are moderate, and operational costs will be only several dollars per unit per year. Thus, at `low cost, navigable Waters kcan be -kept open throughout the year, at great economic gain.

"I'he specific example of the k invention as set forth herein isillustrative only. Various changes in structure will no doubt occur to those skilled `inthe art, and are to be considered as a part of Ithis invention insofar as they fall within the spirit and scopeof the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

l. For use lin maintaining the surface of la body of Vwater lfree of ice, there ,being a bottom of earth or the like beneath said body of water, a self-contained Water moving unit vcomprising a circular housing, a submersible motorrunit having Van output shaft, means mounting said motor unit in said housing, means for mounting said .housing in predetermined position from said bottom at asubstantial distance below the surface of said body of water, with said output .shaft tipped up toward the surface and an axial thrust propeller Von said output shaft, said housing having a water outlet aligned with said propeller on the thrust `side thereof and further lhaving water inlet means, said housing beingsubstantially larger in diameter than said propeller, said propeller, said motor unit, and

said housing including the inlet means and outlet thereof beingspaced from Vthe surface of said body of water and moving water from the depth of said water moving unit to the surface as a stream free of mechanical restraint and Without substantial mixing of the moved water with the surrounding body of water, the moved water spread ing'out `as a'proteotive layer on the surface of said body of Water.

2. A self-contained water circulating unit asset forth -in claim 1 wherein the housing in the plane of the propeller is substantially larger in diameter than the propeller.

stream free of mechanical restraint and without substantial mixing of the moved Water lwith the surrounding body of water, the moved Water spreading out as a protective layer on the surface of said body of water.

4. A self-contained water circulating unit as set forth in claim 3 wherein the housing is of substantially larger diameter than the propeller.

5. A self-contained Water circulating unit as set Vforth in `claim 4 wherein the housing in the plane of the propeller is substantially larger in diameter than the propeller.

6. A system for keeping a body of water ice-free Within 4a predetermined area, there being a bottom of earth or the like "beneath said body, comprising a plurality of like self-contained .water moving units disposed in spaced relation on lsaid bottom, and each spaced in its -entirety from 'the surface of said body of water, each of said water moving units including' means ifor pumping relatively wa'rmer water from adjacent said bottom asV a `stream free of mechanical con-nement to the surface of said body without substantial mixing of the pumped water with the surrounding body of Water 'to spread outy as a relatively warmer layer on said surface.

7. The method .of maintaining a -body of water free of ice which comprises disposing la self-contained Water moving 4unit in .such a body of Water entirely at a substantial distance below the surface thereof, and utilizing said unit to move relatively warmer water free of mechanical confinement from said body at said substantial distance below the sur-face thereof and to direct the relawater spreading out on the surface las a protective layer.

3. For use in maintaining the surface of a body `of U water free Vof ice, there being a lbottom of earth or the like beneath said body of water, a self-contained water moving unit comprising :an annular housing which is at least in part of perfora'te material, a water-tight sealed motor unit -having'ian output-shaft, means mounting said motor unit in said housing, means for mounting said housing in predetermined position from said bottom at Y a substantial distance below the surface of said body of propeller, said lmotor unit, and said housing including the inlet means and outlet vthereof being spaced vfrom the surface of -said body of water and moving water from the depthk of said water moving unit to the surface as a Y References Cited in the ytile of this Vpatent UNITED 4STATES PATENTS 1,328,010 Nelson Ian. 13, 1920 1,786,009 Duwe Dec. 23, 1930 1,789,320 vOverbur'y Ian. 20, 1931 Y1,807,397 Fechheimer May 26, 1931 2,029,153 Burner Ian. 28, 1936 2,190,945 Guth Feb. 20, 1940 2,274,274 Pezzllo Feb. 24, 1942 2,361,404 Kalix Oct. 31, 1944 2,460,757 Kurz Feb. 1, 1949 `2,631,543 Richmond Mar. 17, 1953 2,791,406 Bates, May 7, 1957 2,795,388 Myers Y ..-L June l1, 1957 2,827,268 VStaaf Mar. 18, 1958 2,965,364 Parker et al. Dec. 20, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 485,584 Canada Aug. 12, 1952 604,779 Great Britain Y July 9,V 1948 

1. FOR USE IN MAINTAINING THE SURFACE OF A BODY OF WATER FREE OF ICE, THERE BEING A BOTTOM OF EARTH OR THE LIKE BENEATH SAID BODY OF WATER, A SELF-CONTAINER WATER MOVING UNIT COMPRISING A CIRCULAR HOUSING, A SUBMERSIBLE MOTOR UNIT HAVING AN OUTPUT SHAFT, MEANS MOUNTING SAID MOTOR UNIT IN SAID HOUSING, MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID HOUSING IN PREDETERMINED POSITION FROM SAID BOTTOM AT A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE BELOW THE SURFACE OF SAID BODY OF WATER, WITH SAID OUTPUT SHAFT TIPPED UP TOWARD THE SURFACE AND AN AXIAL THRUST PROPELLER ON SAID OUTPUT SHAFT, SAID HOUSING HAVING A WATER OUTLET ALIGNED WITH SAID PROPELLER ON THE THRUST SIDE THEREOF AND FURTHER HAVING WATER INLET MEANS, SAID HOUSING BEING SUBSTANTIALLY LARGER IN DIAMETER THAN SAID PROPELLER, SAID PROPELLER, SAID MOTOR UNIT, AND SAID HOUSING INCLUDING THE INLET MEANS AND OUTLET THEREOF BEING SPACED FROM THE SURFACE OF SAID BODY OF WATER AND MOVING WATER FROM THE DEPTH OF SAID WATER MOVING UNIT TO THE SURFACE AS A STREAM FREE OF MECHANICAL RESTRAINT AND WITHOUT SUBSTANTIAL MIXING OF THE MOVED WATER WITH THE SURROUNDING BODY OF WATER, THE MOVED WATER SPREADING OUT AS A PROTECTIVE LAYER ON THE SURFACE OF SAID BODY OF WATER. 